Integrating satellite communications into smartphones opens up new possibilities for emergency communication in areas where there is no cellular coverage. Since the introduction of this technology in the iPhone 14, users have been able to make emergency calls and share their location via satellite. ATHENE researchers conducted a comprehensive security analysis of Apple's satellite protocol. Their findings show despite multi-layered encryption and a sophisticated security architecture, there are vulnerabilities that can be exploited for unauthorised communication. For example, the researchers were able to bypass restrictions and hijack satellite communications to send their own text messages, even from countries where the service is not available. They also found lists of security-critical locations, such as satellite ground stations.

Information about the paper
Starshields for iOS: Navigating the Security Cosmos in Satellite Communication
Authors: Jiska Classen, Alexander Heinrich, Fabian Portner, Felix Rohrbach, Matthias Hollick
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The Network and Distributed System Security Symposium 2025, NDSS for short, will take place from February 24-28, 2025 in San Diego, USA.